Brendan Perry at Galway Róisín Dubh, 28th May 2010

This was the third and final gig that Brendan would be playing in Ireland to promote his new album, Ark. It was to be arguably the best of the three.

The Róisín Dubh is a traditional Irish pub with a music venue in a second room at the back, on the canal side. Like the city in which it’s located, it has plenty of character and this boded well for the gig ahead.

When I arrived, the band were still doing the soundcheck. Even from the other room, I could tell that the sound was going to be good tonight.

Rónán Ó Snodaigh, one-time Dead Can Dance performer and founding member of Kila, was filling the support slot again, as in Dublin. He took to the stage at about 21:15 and performed an improvised set, playing the bodhrán and singing.

Before the gig, he told me that he doesn’t decide what he’s going to play until it’s time to play it and, as he prepared to play, he dropped a beer mat in front of himself, bearing a set list that he had quickly scribbed together at the bar. Class.

The man is a born entertainer and his performance, steeped in humorous banter, brought a smile to everyone’s face. He more than warmed up the crowd for Brendan, who was only a few minutes behind and arrived on stage at 22:00.

I’d estimate that here were about 150 to 200 people present; a similar showing to Cork, anyway. As I looked around, I saw a number of people who looked as if they were at the wrong gig, including a contingent of young, scantily clad Polish women. No-one could get in without a ticket, though, so they must have come to the right place.

The set list was the same as on the previous two nights. The only difference was that Brendan didn’t take any chances with Severance and opted to play it as the last song of the first (and thus only) encore. In Dublin and Cork, the audience had failed to respond with the appropriate enthusiasm after the first encore and, in the latter city, it had cost them Severance.

Ironically, Galway was the one place where the audience did clap and cheer for more, but it was in vain, because the full set had already been played.

The crowd in Galway were very enthusiastic, compensating for their diminutive number with rapturous applause and cheering. A few people even danced during the second half of the set, which was as amusing as it was unexpected.

Spirit was once again the high point of the evening for me. It really grooved along and it was all I could do to stop myself from dancing (which wouldn’t have done the recording any favours). Just feel that pounding rhythm in the section where Peter Sheridan kicks in with the tambourine.

This brought my three day stint in Ireland, following the band, to a close. I thoroughly enjoyed the experience and am left craving more.

If you are thinking of going to see Brendan at one of his upcoming shows, I strongly suggest that you give in to the temptation. You’ll be in for a real treat. Beg, borrow or steal to make it happen.

As in Cork, the sound in Galway was excellent, much better than in Dublin. Brendan has a fine sound engineer in the person of David Badrick.

I recorded the concert and it is now available on DIME.

I’d like to say a huge thank you to Brendan for his liberal, generous and enlightened attitude regarding fan recordings. Your generosity towards your fans is much appreciated.